Gadgets & Services

News: For Now, No New Clies

Sony won't introduce any new Clie PDAs in the U.S. this year, the company announced. Product development and sales will continue for the Japanese market only.

So what's up with that? Clie sales in the U.S. are down, according to IDC. Meanwhile, PDA users are showing more interest in smart phones than in traditional PDAs, according to an IDC analyst. Sony will continue to honor warranties and support contracts for U.S. customers, the company says.

Review: Pocket PC With Built-In GPS

Mitac's Mio 168 GPS Pocket PC ($495) combines a Pocket PC with a GPS receiver. But as PC World's Rebecca Freed discovered, the Mio 168 didn't perform either function well.

The device's buttons are confusing, and the manual offered nothing more than canned information about the Windows Mobile 2003 operating system and its apps. Whenever you start the Mio Map application, an annoying dialog box appears, and to make it disappear, you must agree that the application shouldn't be used by someone who's driving. And it took about 3 minutes of standing in an open area outside to get a strong enough satellite signal--a bit longer than most GPS units.

Bottom line: If you're looking for a PDA with GPS capabilities, this gadget isn't likely to meet your needs.

Hands On: DeLorme's Earthmate Blue Logger

A GPS for Bluetooth-enabled PDAs, the Earthmate Blue Logger records location data as you travel. Later, you can download the data and map your course on your notebook. PC World's Tracey Capen, who tested the $150 device with DeLorme's Street Atlas USA 2004, found that the Blue Logger sometimes had trouble finding a GPS signal. Overall, though, the GPS gadget worked well with his Bluetooth-enabled Palm Tungsten T3. For Tracey's review, read the second item in July's "Quick Takes."

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